Neuropathology of subarachnoid phenol-glycerin

Summary An analysis is presented of the neuropathological findings in a 39-year-old man with severe multiple sclerosis who received two subarachnoid injections of phenol in glycerin for the relief of spastic paraparalysis in flexion contracture and of the findings in a single root from another patient. The morphology and extent of the pathological processes are described.Extensive damage to both anterior and posterior roots involving fibres of all sizes, accompanied by localized arachnoiditis, was observed.The effect on spasticity was excellent, but it was obtained at the expense of destruction of sensory roots which was more extensive than was necessary and desirable.

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Zusammenfassung Die neuropathologischen Befunde eines 39 jährigen Mannes mit schwere multipler Sklerose, der zwei subarachnoidale Injektionen von Phenolglycerin zur Milderung der spastischen Paraparese in Beugekontraktur erhalten hatte, werden erörtert; der Befund an einer einzelnen Wurzel bei einem anderen Patienten wird mitgeteilt. Morphologie und Ausdehnung der pathologischen Veränderungen werden beschrieben. Es wurden ausgedehnte Schädigungen sowohl der Vorder- als auch der Hinterwurzeln beobachtet, die Fasern aller Kaliber betrafen und von lokalisierter Arachnoiditis begleitet waren. Die Wirkung auf die Spastizität war ausgezeichnet, sie erfolgte jedoch auf Kosten der Zerstörung sensibler Wurzeln, die ausgedehnter war, als notwendig und wünschenswert erschien.

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With 4 Figures in the Text     

Microbiology of infected pustular psoriasis lesions

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infections can occur in lesions of pustular psoriasis (PP). The objective of this study was to establish the aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of secondarily infected PP. METHODS: A retrospective 10-year review was carried out of clinical and microbiology laboratory records from patients with secondarily infected PP lesions, whose specimens of infected sites were processed for the presence of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. RESULTS: Bacterial growth was noted in 23 specimens. Aerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria only were present in 12 patients (52%), anaerobic bacteria only in four (17%), and mixed anaerobic-aerobic flora was present in seven (30%). Thirty-six isolates were recovered (1.6 per specimen), 23 aerobic or facultative bacteria and 13 strict anaerobes. The predominant aerobic and facultative bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (15 isolates), Group D Enterococcus (two isolates), and Escherichia coli (two isolates). The predominant anaerobes were Peptostreptococcus spp. (six isolates) and Bacteroides fragilis group, Propionibacterium acnes, and pigmented Prevotella spp. in two each. Single bacterial isolates were recovered in 14 patients (61%), 11 of which were S. aureus. Nineteen of the organisms isolated from 18 patients (78%) produced the enzyme beta-lactamase. S. aureus was isolated from all body sites. Organisms that resided in the mucous membranes close to the lesions predominated in these infections. Enteric Gram-negative rods and Bacteroides fragilis group predominated in lesions on the legs and buttocks. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, pigmented Prevotella, and Fusobacterium spp. were most frequently recovered in lesions of the hand. CONCLUSIONS: The polymicrobial etiology of secondarily infected PP lesions and the association of bacterial flora with the anatomic site of the lesions were demonstrated.     

The prevalence, incidence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among pregnant Zimbabwean women followed up nine months after childbirth

Background  

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the leading cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide. The virus can be transmitted to neonates and there are scarce data regarding incidence of HSV-2 among women in pregnancy and after childbirth. The aim of this study is to measure the incidence and risk factors for HSV-2 infection in women followed for 9 months after childbirth.     

Probing in vivo Mn2+ speciation and oxidative stress resistance in yeast cells with electron-nuclear double resonance spectroscopy

Manganese is an essential transition metal that, among other functions, can act independently of proteins to either defend against or promote oxidative stress and disease. The majority of cellular manganese exists as low molecular-weight Mn²⁺ complexes, and the balance between opposing “essential” and “toxic” roles is thought to be governed by the nature of the ligands coordinating Mn²⁺. Until now, it has been impossible to determine manganese speciation within intact, viable cells, but we here report that this speciation can be probed through measurements of ¹H and ³¹P electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) signal intensities for intracellular Mn²⁺. Application of this approach to yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells, and two pairs of yeast mutants genetically engineered to enhance or suppress the accumulation of manganese or phosphates, supports an in vivo role for the orthophosphate complex of Mn²⁺ in resistance to oxidative stress, thereby corroborating in vitro studies that demonstrated superoxide dismutase activity for this species.